Harlem Globetrotter ‘Slick’ Willy Shaw speaks in front of a group of children on Monday, Feb. 25 about the effects of bullying. / Robert Gill/FSView

Written by

Eric Jaffe

Senior Staff Writer

Nearly 50 Tallahassee kids screamed with joy as Willy Shaw, a 6’6’’ basketball player dressed in red, white and blue, worked his way into a packed dance studio at the Boys & Girls Club.

“My name is Slick and this is my ninth season with the world famous Harlem Globetrotters!” he said. The crowd went wild.

Traditionally, Slick plays forward; today, he plays inspiration. In a 30-minute presentation, Slick brings children up to the front of the room with him to perform tricks, and more importantly, teach the entire class how to prevent bullying with a method called the ABCs. The ABCs of Bullying Prevention program is coordinated with the National Campaign to Stop Violence to help reduce bullying in schools.

“The ABCs stand for action, bravery and compassion,” said Shaw. “Those three things right there can help prevent bullying from happening if they carry them out in their every day life. The ABC is a bully prevention program that the Harlem Globetrotters have going on now. Bullying is a problem in our youth and we want to raise awareness by giving kids the proper tools to prevent bullying in schoolyards and their communities at large.”

Shaw grew up in the Bronx, New York, before attending St. John’s University just a half hour away.

“I grew up in a pretty rough neighborhood,” said Shaw. “I was never bullied myself, but I’ve seen bullying happen. I’ve seen bullies, drugs and violence—things of that nature. So I know how to relate to kids in an urban aspect and I can tell them that they have to keep their heads up. Days might seem cloudy and your future might seem grim, but you always have to stay positive.”

For Shaw, it was the court across the street from his house that helped him achieve the success he has today.

“Basketball was my way out,” said Shaw. “Ever since I was six years old, I played basketball. I’d beg my mom and grandma to go out and I’d be out in the park from sun-up to sun-down. The sport took me to places I never would have dreamed of in a million years. I had a free education [at St. John’s University] and to this day I’ve been blessed enough to play in 70 countries all over the world.”

A true believer in giving back to the community, Shaw has devoted a great deal of time to charity work and talking to kids just like the ones at the Boys and Girls club in Tallahassee.

“As you get older, you look back, and of course we’re all going to make mistakes, but as you get old you’re going to have people in your life who try to guide you and you just have to listen to them,” said Shaw. “That’s the main thing kids need to realize, you need to listen to people because we all know that, as kids, we made mistakes and we don’t want them to do the same. [Being a Globetrotter], it’s a great thing to be able to have a positive impact on people and leave those positive impressions in someone’s life.”

On top of his charity work, Slick will be returning, along with all of his teammates, to the Leon County Civic Center on Monday, March 11, for the team’s brand new “You Make the Rules” tour.

“The ‘You Make the Rules’ tour is the first time ever in the history of sports where fans get to choose the rules,” said Shaw. “Choose what rule you want to see the Harlem Globetrotters play—whether it’s two basketballs at the same time, points are worth double or the addition of a four-point shot twelve feet behind the NBA line—and we’ll do it.”

Voting takes place on the team’s official website. Other options include a six-on-five game where the Globetrotters must take on a team with one fewer member and a penalty box in which all players are forced into after committing even one foul. Slick’s personal favorite?

“I love the two basketballs because it’s something you don’t see on a regular basis,” said Shaw. “There isn’t any other team out there playing with two balls at the same time. It lets us show people what the Harlem Globetrotters are about: our basketball wizardry.”